Govt. dismisses AJ photos

The Government today dismissed the authenticity of photographs shown on Al Jazeera (AJ) depicting piles of bodies and execution-style killings allegedly captured during the final stages of the war.

Media Minister Keheliya Rabukwella said the images were nothing new but a repetition of the channel 4 footage. “These are not new, but the same as the channel 4 footage and photographs with a few additions,” he said.

He said Al Jazeera itself could not verify the photographs and thus their authenticity was in question once more, similar to the footage and photographs that had emerged in the past.

Al-Jazeera said it had obtained the images from an unnamed source who said they had been taken by a member of the Sri Lankan military. It said it was unable to verify their authenticity.

Meanwhile External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson and Public Communication Director General Banduala Jayasekera said these were “malicious reports” that were being circulated by various parties. “This is a clear attempt to disgrace Sri Lanka and undermine the victory our forces had over a brutal terrorist organization,” he said.

Comments - 71

If you have done nothing wrong,illegal,,,,,, there's nothing to worry about...

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MagodisThuma Thursday, 11 November 2010 14:39

All is fair in war and love !.

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Samarasena Thursday, 11 November 2010 17:25

Then what are we fighting for?

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Ranil Friday, 12 November 2010 00:22

Are you prepared to be at the receiving end of such fair treatment?

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bandu Thursday, 11 November 2010 12:55

why the goverment take more tention about this???may be its true story???

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sham Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:36

i agree with u

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gamunu Wijesinghe Thursday, 11 November 2010 14:45

Bandu, this is not an issue for the Government only but for the entire nation. You may think if the government has nothing to hide why bother. But this is serious and you are too are not immune from this. LTTE rump will do anything to destabilize sriLanka. They will continue to bring these accusations to get Srilanka to face human rights.

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Assay Bayai! Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:37

gamunu I also like to believe what ur saying as a Sri Lankan! but I also believe that if anyone has wronged they must also be punished! so in the end Justice must prevail!

2678

Kamala Bandu Balakay Friday, 12 November 2010 05:02

Well said Gamunu, I also became very disappointed and annoyed by reading the comments of these hypocrite and foolish people who cannot distinguish the patriotism and political rivalcy.

169

Sinhaya Thursday, 11 November 2010 17:53

Bandu sarpayage ekek wenna eti

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polkiccha Thursday, 11 November 2010 21:59

For god's sake if you are living in SL then you are living safely thanks to the final operation in 2009 and the SLA. don't disgrace them by siding up with PRO LTTE factions.

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m rifai nazim Thursday, 11 November 2010 12:57

Aljazeera the mouth piece of Bin Laden - Hands off from Sri Lanka. Our Government is more capable of handling internal affairs than the entire Middle East which is marred with conflicts fighting each other.

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michi Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:29

Bin Laden is a very good friend of Iran. Iran is a very good friend of our President. So then?

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Fair n Square Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:06

my friends friend is a friend of mine, my friends enemy is an enemy of mine !! goes an old saying. so where do V stand?

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msap Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:05

Aljazeera is Middle East mouth piece of BBC. The name Aljazeera is to make the world believe it broadcasts Muslim views. But It is same as BBC and not different. BBC is 'Boru Begal Corporation' and hence Ajjazeera too.

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Smart Aleck Thursday, 11 November 2010 23:37

LTTE diaspora seems to be spending a colossal sum of money on foreign media personnel.

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a voter Friday, 12 November 2010 01:33

I remember many Sri Lankan sharing the link when Aljazeera had a series about LTTE.

The new findings are appearing when they talk about Government.

517

NADARAJAH SETHURUPAN Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:01

LTTE also did execution-style killings.

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Sam Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:09

And that's why it was a terrorist organization. So the government of Sri Lanka and forces are terrorist too right?

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channa Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:06

All pack of lies....same story repeating ......

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UJ Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:08

Hey Mr. Rifai Nazim, Could you please tell your President do that.

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ND Friday, 12 November 2010 11:14

MR is the President of every citizen, whether they like it or not.

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shameer Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:10

some one take a copy of a english movie & say americans are killing............... lol

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gotapakaya Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:12

no one can hide the truth.One day the culprit will pay for his sins.

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pd Thursday, 11 November 2010 14:13

yes main culprite -prabaha has already paid for his sins so were other of his leaders. other LTTE culprits wl also pay. well said!!

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Shashika Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:05

100% correct.

2426

a voter Friday, 12 November 2010 01:36

what about culprits in the government?

022

Yehiya-Doha Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:15

Al Jazeera operating from Doha. Under kingdom freedom of speech & Media. As democratic country what we have.

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Regional Inspetor Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:39

tru and wel said

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Ryan Friday, 12 November 2010 02:54

Thats why we also need a kingdom to be democratic.

38

pissu balla Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:33

The GoSL has to respond to these allegations in more responsible manner. Most of the top people in the GoSL are uneducated and they do not know how to handle a situation locally or internationally. GoSL's response to all the allegations are in the form of "All the international media lie, we are the only honest people on the earth". GoSL is applying the same theory that they use to cheat SL people to get their votes. GoSL can't run like this for that long.

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meranchi Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:37

western media trying to spoiled good image of srilanka ..... al jazeera always familiar with terrorist group because always most of the time telecasting bin laden video and voice massage so there is nothing special....

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ABAYA Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:42

Where is the legal action that G.L.Peris and Attoney Gen promised to take against channel-4 ? In fact they went to lomdon to initiat action.

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ganja malli Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:45

not to worry the US killed more innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan

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Game Kolla Thursday, 11 November 2010 13:56

If you are innocent do not get panic

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RW Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:01

We cannot justify any of this by saying that "the LTTE did similar killings". That does not give any one the right to kill. Or pin the blame on international media or the west.

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Karthik Friday, 12 November 2010 04:21

Thats why LTTE was branded as terrorist. So now how would you like to brand this state for doing the same thing?

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SINHA BAHU Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:12

Just because America is killing innocent people u shouldn't say that we also can do the same thing.who ever does it WRONG IS WRONG.The culprit should hanged to death.

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lankan lion Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:15

Keheliya always has an answer for everything.everyone knows he is lieing.one day these people will be punished.............at least by god.

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MR Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:26

The south very well knows how did our forces manage the JVP problem in 88-89.we all know how many innocent sinhala boys were killed during that period by the army.so its not unusual for them to repeat it.

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Haramanis Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:31

There were piles of humans bodies burning on tires in 89 in south. I wonder why no jazeera nor Four came up with footage. Oh yeah no panel to advice UN chief.

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Assay Bayai! Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:41

nobody can justify one wrong with another I suppose!!!

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malkanthi Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:35

Who is a disgrace to Sri Lanka and who is undermining the victory our forces by keeping the brainchild under arrest? When people don't have freedom to express their views in sri lanka, they find it elsewhere. Suppression of freedom to express views is somehow finding its way from somewhere with a dash of spices added..

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chenamana Friday, 12 November 2010 03:04

well said Malkanthi. Let Srilankan media to publish everything they have. then the truth will come out.

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k.kalaiselvan Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:42

When the LTTE surrounded the armed forces in Jaffna in 2002 they could have massacred the armed forces they did not...they are not the terrorists.

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Sinnai Thursday, 11 November 2010 15:54

If Srilankan government forces did not violate the international law then they should not worry about these allegation. But I am sure our forces voilated the rules under the orders from- you know who?

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S.Sriranjan Thursday, 11 November 2010 16:01

No body can change the attitude of a person unless he himself realize.Mr.Keheliya Rambukwela is no exemption..

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Dee Thursday, 11 November 2010 16:31

Al Jazeera. Why dont you go post pics of afghan extreamist terror.

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yikes Friday, 12 November 2010 04:30

they have published. you just need to watch every news item on the Aj-Jazeerian channel.

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Dee Friday, 12 November 2010 07:11

they do when drones whack them. not the real stuff.not the real war against terror.

10

jeevan Thursday, 11 November 2010 16:35

As a Tamil I am happy that there is no more LTTE, but you cant hide the innoscent deaths. If the government is hsppy with their explanation why they cant allow the forign media in to Sri Lanka.?

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Faqi Thursday, 11 November 2010 16:44

The truth cannot be hidden for ever, it would surface at one time or another, once the conscience of even one of the perpetratorscome to light.

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Faqi Thursday, 11 November 2010 16:46

msap - Your comment is news to many. Al Jazeera is no mouth piece of the BBC. How on earth did you come to that conclusion? Is it because some of the veteran new casters are europeans?

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xlntgson Friday, 12 November 2010 10:37

Not only whites, but Zionist agents to keep the past in live memory, the reminder of right to revenge!Selling video clips and conventional weapons!

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gotapakaya Thursday, 11 November 2010 20:35

"We are always open.Any country can com to Sri Lanka and carry out war crime investigations" said the new president of Sri Lanka.Then i woke up from my dream.

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cholan Thursday, 11 November 2010 23:14

God will punish the killers

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Karthik Friday, 12 November 2010 03:37

If this leadership of Srilanka continues, i bet Sri lanka will be a iran, North korea or Lebanon in future. In my calculation even now we are black listed among world leading countries

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Athas Friday, 12 November 2010 06:25

Karthik, we don't want a puppert of any other so called world leading countries.

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Said Hussein Friday, 12 November 2010 03:37

There is enough evidence being collected to expose the truth and this will happen very soon. The International law dealing with crime will prevail.

Said HusseinLondon

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willows Friday, 12 November 2010 03:42

the only way out is let GSF free and he will defend our war heroes, he is th only one can resurrect SL

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Hirantha Friday, 12 November 2010 03:56

Kerheliya the world knows you are a mouth peice of the Govt.

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channa Friday, 12 November 2010 14:01

He is the Govt spokesperson for your information...

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W.G.L Friday, 12 November 2010 05:42

you all going to get unpopular in the world specially with the western world any one can answer this if you get a scholarship to go to UK or Iran what is you choose

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04

tamilan Friday, 12 November 2010 06:17

as per my view srilanka should Genuinely approach this matters.because its too sensitive matter for tamils..

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Panigawatte Friday, 12 November 2010 08:51

Truth or not but Both are real culprits.

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Anver Friday, 12 November 2010 11:44

The truth is coming out in the form of pics and a pic is more than a thousand words. Surely, some people have to answer the question as to what has actually happened.

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07

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